Michael Brissenden presents AM Monday to Friday from 8:00am on ABC Local Radio and 7:10am on Radio National. Join Elizabeth Jackson for the Saturday edition at 8am on Local Radio and 7am on Radio National.

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Wednesday 5 March 2003

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Leak on bulk billing scheme fuels Medicare debate

In the volatile politics of Medicare, the Federal Government is saying nothing official about any planned changes but, in what appears to be an orchestrated leak to all major metropolitan newspapers this morning, Government sources are quoted as saying that a one billion dollar scheme will aim to give financial incentives to doctors in regional and outlying areas to bulk bill the disadvantaged. The Labor Leader Simon Crean, joins AM to discuss Medicare.

Bush sets deadline for debate on Iraq

The US is now moving to force the hand of the Security Council. This morning, the Bush administration has, for the first time, set a deadline for UN debate on Iraq. The White House says it is running out of patience and running out of time, and as long as George Bush is willing to wait is the end of next week. By putting up dates, Mr Bush has made it clear that even without authorisation, US troops, with the backing of allies like Australia, will move on the regime in Baghdad.

Saddam's new year message defiant

Iraqi opposition leader questions US plan for Iraq

As war now draws very close, the US continues to plan for a military administration in Iraq, assuming Saddam Hussein is toppled, while it's also giving succour to the array of opposition groups in exile. But those opposition groups are not keen to have an American general running their country, and not all those who oppose Saddam Hussein are with those opposition groups.

Call for help for Australian man in Saudi prison

Imprisoned in a cell in Saudi Arabia and dragged out fortnightly for the lash and, reportedly, subjected to constant pressure to convert to Islam. That's what 55-year old Australian man, Robert Thomas, is enduring after a Saudi judge held him responsible for theft committed by his wife. Mr Thomas' daughter, Sarah Munro, was this morning urging the Federal Government to do more for her father.

DPP condemns NSW Labor and Liberal law policies

In an extraordinary intervention in the middle of an election campaign, the New South Wales chief law enforcement officer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, has condemned both Labor and the Liberal Party in the State over their law and order policies, a centrepiece of the debate just seventeen days out from the State poll.

New space station begins work

A new deep space ground station begins its work in Western Australia today, a venture that's being driven by the European Space Agency in pursuit of answers to some of the great questions about human existence. The agency has chosen the monastic town of New Norcia, north of Perth, for the station, where a key focus will be the journey of a probe, which will be launched later this year, destination, Mars.